How Greater Western Sydney lured Essendon great James Hird back to the AFL
James Hird is back in footy after joining GWS in a mentoring role — but he could have been with a different side, as Mark Robinson details the Essendon champion’s comeback.
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Whatever eventuates for James Hird and football from here — and it could be nothing or it could be something — he will forever be indebted to Leon Cameron and the Giants.
And Mark McVeigh.
And Matt de Boer.
They all played a role in Hird’s return to football but if push comes to shove, it is Cameron, the eight-year coach of the football club, who opened the door for Hird to take a step through it.
It is a baby step in some ways, for it is only a part-time leadership position.
In another adaptation, it’s a step of immeasurable significance, for there was a time when it wasn’t known if Hird was going to live or die.
That was January 2017, when Hird was rushed to hospital after an overdose of sleeping tablets.
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By then, he’d been stood down by the AFL for 12 months and let go by Essendon, all the while endeavouring to seek the truth of events which surrounded the supplement saga.
In the end, he would spend five weeks in a psychiatric ward and, after that, many years rediscovering himself and his worth.
Now, the sport he loved and excelled at as a player and which later challenged and ultimately spat him out as a coach — and he has taken responsibility for that — has gently welcomed him back into the fold. He has joined GWS in a mentoring role.
Mind you, the Essendon champ could’ve been a Kangaroo through 2021.
There were brief talks between him and the club and while Hird was more than lukewarm to the idea of a role at Arden St, the idea didn’t play out in Hird’s favour.
Cameron, who enters the final year of his contract, didn’t hesitate, however.
“That shows a lot about who Leon is,” McVeigh said.
McVeigh, a former teammate of Hird at Essendon and a great mate post their footy careers, said the joy he gets when he sees the joy in Hird’s face was difficult to describe.
“It makes me smile,’’ McVeigh said.
“I was always a strong advocate for Hirdy through the stuff he went through and I thought he was treated as unfairly.
“For a long period of time, I’ve thought we can’t lose this bloke to football or whatever may be.
“I look at him now and I see someone who is enjoying having a small part in a footy club. He’s happy and smiling and he’s back to the Hirdy I knew.
“Through those dark periods he wasn’t the person I’d always known, and I feel like I’ve got a mate back.’’
THE GIANTS ARE THE REDEMPTION CLUB
IN Sydney, Hird escapes the constant eyes of the public, whereas in footy-crazed Melbourne, he might as well be a tourist attraction.
“He’s really happy coming to Sydney,’’ McVeigh said. “He’s not known and he enjoys that and he’s having some really good input with our three captains and our leadership group, and getting a little footy fix and getting some footy happiness
“I’ll be forever indebted to Leon for what he’s done for Hirdy.’’
McVeigh knows Cameron’s qualities. McVeigh was at the Giants when, as part of the Essendon 34, he was suspended for 12 months.
“I remember, Leon saying, mate we’ll look after you for 12 months and when you come back you’ll be ready to go.
“Leon is one of the greatest people I’ve ever met and I said to Leon, Hirdy deserves a second chance and if you could make it happen, and I want it to happen, that would be great.”
The Giants are not steeped in history — this is their 10th season of top-level competition — yet they are a proving to be the redemption club.
They are proud of that.
In no particular order of redemption or importance, the Giants have welcomed people when others did not want them.
They include Mark Williams who was sacked by Port Adelaide, former players Steve Johnson and Heath Shaw, and they gave a life line to Shane Mumford.
HOW HIRD GOT TO GWS
THE Road to Damascus for Hird began with a chance business discussion with Matt de Boer when the Giants were in a hub in Melbourne last year.
McVeigh involved himself and invited his former skipper to address the players.
In January this year, McVeigh examined further possibilities. He invited Hird to the Giants’ leadership group camp on NSW’s central coast, where Hird spent two day with the players.
There, Hird told his story. From the start to the end, and certainly expanded on the depths of his depression and the ongoing battle to seek calmness and understanding within.
“It is a powerful story,’’ McVeigh said.
The players were said to be in awe, not only because of Hird’s Hall of Fame story as a player, but for his story of salvation.
Enter Leon Cameron.
Giants head of football Jason McCartney was keen to add Hird to the staff in a part-time leadership mentoring role, McVeigh was a tick, and Hird was a yes.
It needed Cameron’s approval.
“There were a lot of hands on the decision, but Leon Cameron is the senior coach and he talks about what he wants in his program,’’ McVeigh said.
“For Leon to come to me and say, ‘can we get James Hird to help us with our leadership group and help us be a better team, and can you make it happen’ … that speaks volumes for who Leon is.’’
Cameron was a consideration for coach of the year in 2021, having been savaged by injury and going on to win a final against the Swans.
This year he is out of contract and scuttlebutt needs only an inch before it runs a mile and if the Giants stumble, all sorts of scuttlebutt about his future could ensue.
In essence, Cameron put his team and players above self interest.
If Hird can help, then bring him in.
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE HOLD?
LET’S not overstate his role. He flies to Sydney once or twice a fortnight and stays a couple of days. He sits in team meetings, generally at the back, and listens, observant about staying in his lane.
In leadership meetings he is in his element, although it is said that when he does involve himself in drills during training, he is a kid in a lolly shop.
Giants chief executive David Matthews recently joined Cameron and Hird at a sort of welcome-to dinner at Bathers’ Pavilion on the harbour.
Neither of them were concerned about what eventuated at Essendon.
“Leon is a selfless person who says: ‘How do we keep improving’?’’ Matthews said.
“He is not concerned about security or any uncertainty, he embraced a big name who by and large has had a very successful football career.
“This is a successful person who should be judged on the complete contribution over a period of time. We know he’s a quality person and has quality football intellect.
“Sometimes when people embrace you, you embrace them.’’
Matthews was a fly on the wall as both men discussed the three-man captaincy — Toby Greene, Josh Kelly and Stephen Coniglio — and the eight-man leadership group.
“It felt very natural,’’ Matthews said. “There was a real sense of enjoyment for James.
“The appointment is a significant move for Leon Cameron, a significant move for James Hird and a significant move for the Giants.
“James was in Siberia and now it’s an opportunity for everyone.’’
McVeigh also sees the rapport.
“Hirdy and Leon are very close,’’ he said.
“They are elder statesmen of the game, have great footy minds, played in the same era, know each other well, and you see them often just chatting about the leadership group, and I’m sure there is footy in there as well.
“I speak to Hirdy and he has so much time for Leon.’’
This first foray back into football might be the start and end of Hird’s renaissance.
It might also, however, rekindle a flame.
Does he want to coach again? Only he knows that.
True, all footballers are competitors, the greats fiercely so. And Hird just might believe he has a point to prove, that he is a good football person who can coach, and who lost that opportunity.
McVeigh is unsure what the future holds.
“I don’t know where it goes, but he’s happy and that’s important,’’ he said.
“I’ll never forget what Leon has done for James.’’
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Originally published as How Greater Western Sydney lured Essendon great James Hird back to the AFL
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